Apparatus for the fluid treatment of fabrics in rope form

ABSTRACT

The spiral guide member in an apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form of the type wherein a winch roller and a parallel spiral guide member are rotatably mounted lengthwise in a tank with an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on the interior of one of the tank end walls and moving in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and the guide member with one end of the fabric being connected to the chain and carried thereby around the winch roller and guide member has its center shaft surrounded by longitudinally disposed rotatable rollers. The winch roller is driven by a prime mover and through a variable speed gearing drives the conveyor chain with such gearing being adjustable by a handwheel at the front of the tank operating a screw through a universally mounted connecting rod to actuate a lever for the gearing so that the speed of the chain is regulated independently of the speed of the winch roller. The chain drives an adjustable speed unit which transmits drive to the spiral guide shaft that is mounted for easy removal from the tank walls with the spiral guide member rotating in timed relation with the rotation of the chain.

I Umted States Patent [151 3,673,826

Stanway 1 July 4, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR THE FLUID Primary Examiner-William l. Price TREATMENT OF FABRICS IN ROPE Allomey-Mccal1hy, Depaoli & oBrien F RM 0 [57] ABSTRACT [72] lnventor: Edward Stanway, Fountain Street, Macclesfield SK 10 11w, England Thesprral guide member in an apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form of the type wherein a Wll'lCh roller and a [22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 parallel spiral guide member are rotatably mounted lengthwise in a tank with an endless conveyor chain rotatably [2]] App! 65448 mounted on the interior of one of the tank end walls and moving in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data winch roller and the guide member with one end of the fabric being connected to the chain and carried thereby around the g gig: 31: winch roller and guide member has its center shaft surrounded e r r am by longitudinally disposed rotatable rollers, The winch roller is driven by a prime mover and through a variable speed gearing Cl drives the conveyor chain with such gearing being adjustable by a handwheel at the front of the tank operating a screw [58] Field of Search ..68/l76, 177

through a universally mounted connecting rod to actuate a lever for the gearing so that the speed of the chain is regulated [56] References cued independently of the speed of the winch roller. The chain I UNITED STATES PATENTS drives an adjustable speed unit which transmits drive to the spiral guide shaft that is mounted for easy removal from the g g at al tank walls with the spiral guide member rotating in timed relai as e tion with the rotation of the chain. 3,460,362 8/1969 Kilgour et al. ..68/l76 12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures s (\l .O P0 q- LO 9 N INVENTOR Ll. EDWARD STANWAY BY mcMW,@cpMQLi@'Qnl0/1 ATTORNEYj PATENTEDJUL 4 I972 SHEET 2 0F 5 INVENTOR EDWA R D STANWAY BY mmcmiwyflpwti finim ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL 4 1972 SHEET 30f 5 wv E R mum WW N m k S D MM W I D m C mmwm m m QUE ATTORNEY SHEEI 50$ 5 P'A'TENTEDJUM 1972 FIG.8

INVENTOR EDWARD STANWAY YWQ MWQW ATTORNEY 5 APPARATUS FOR THE FLUID TREATMENT OF FABRICS IN ROPE FORM The present invention generally appertains to new and novel improvements in apparatus for forming and treating a rope fabric helix in a tank, such as a dye-beck or box, with such helix being composed of successive spaced apart loops that are revolved in the tank so as to be continuously treated with a liquid or fluid in the tank, either of the open or closed pressure type. Such basic apparatus is disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,088,665 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,639.

The apparatus of the present invention essentially comprises a winch roller which is rotatably mounted in the tank adjacent the rear thereof and above the liquid bath chamber in the bottom of the tank, a rotatable spiral guide member mounted in the tank adjacent the front thereof and disposed parallel with the winch roller and an endless conveyor chain to which the leading end of the roped fabric is attached, with the conveyor chain moving in an orbital path vertically about one end of the adjacent ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member.

More particularly, the present invention relates to new and novel improvements in such aforedescribed basic spiral apparatus, particularly in connection with a novel drive arrangement between the winch roller and the chain and between the chain and the spiral guide member and a novel guide arrangement for the spiral guide member.

Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber, a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing rope fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof, a spiral guide member rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, said spiral guide member having movable pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller, an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the drive reel and the spiral guide member, means for rotating the winch roller, a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the conveyor chain, an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the carrier chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the carrier chain, and a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral guide member.

The variable speed drive transmission means comprises a variable speed gearing, a means for adjusting the variable speed gearing, a drive wheel which drives the conveyor chain, an output gear which is rigidly and axially attached thereto, a sprocket fixed onto the output shaft of the variable speed gearing and connected to the drive wheel and the output gear with a drive chain, an input gear on an input shaft to the variable speed gearing, and a sprocket coaxially attached to the winch roller and connected to the drive wheel and the input gear with a chain.

The means for adjusting the variable speed gearing comprises an actuating lever, a control rod carried by the lever, a pivoted bell crank pivotally connected to the control rod at one end and carrying a traveller nut at its other end, a screw there-added in the nut, a connecting rod universally connected to the screw at one end, and a hand wheel universally connected to the other end of the connecting rod and disposed at the other end of the tank.

In the basic apparatus, an idler reel is rotatably mounted in the tank and is positioned parallel with and above and slightly behind the spiral guide. The idler reel is a free wheeling roll that is driven only by the traction of the revolving loops passing from the liquid chamber of the tank up and through the pockets of the spiral guide and up and over the idler reel and then breaking close to a right angle in leading directly to the winch roller, which frictionally grasps and moves the loops. The winch roller is directly powered by a motor and constitutes the driver for all of the loops being formed.

The loops are formed by the movement of the conveyor chain in an orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide, with the chain carrying the leading end of the rope fabric around such ends. The conveyor chain travels at a much slower speed than the loops already formed, which loops are being revolved by the winch roller. The chain is much shorter than the loops but makes its cycle in .the same amount of time, due to a timed drive relationship between the winch roller and the chain.

The leading end of the rope fabric is attached to the chain and is passed up and over the idler reel. it then passes on over the winch roller until the winch roller makes contact with the leading end, with the surface speed of the winch roller being much greater than that of the conveyor and the leading end forming the new loop. At this point, the winch roller has sufficient frictional engagement of the new loop to pull such new loop and feed it down into the liquid chamber at the bottom of the tank, so that a portion thereof freely relaxes and pleats over. The conveyor chain continues on around bringing the end up into the pocket of the spiral guide, which advances the loop, and then the chain passes on to the beginning to start another new loop.

As the new loop is being formed, it is passing over the idler reel which is traveling at a greater speed than the new loop, which is being conveyed by the slower moving chain and the new loop makes contact with the idler reel prior to making contact with the winch roller. Thus, the idler reel tends to overfeed the slower moving new loop of rope fabric down between the idler reel and the winch roller, which tends to cause a tangling of rope fabric as described in lines 3-11, column 2, U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,979.

The spiral guide member is composed of a rotatable center shaft surrounded by a helically coiled wire member defining movable pockets in which the fabric loops are disposed so that the loops are laid up and maintained on the winch roller in spaced apart relation. The turns of the wire member are connected to the shaft by radial spokes. To eliminate the need for accessory guide members, such as the idler reel, rollers, bars or guides acting in conjunction with the spiral guide member, while keeping the fabric loops guidingly running in the pockets and not jumping out therefrom and to avoid the possibility of the fabric loop adjacent the chain from overfeeding or overrunning and becoming clogged in the spiral guide member, the shaft of the spiral guide member is surrounded with longitudinally disposed rotatable rollers as the pocket guide means of this invention. The center shaft is in the form of an X in cross section acting as a frame for housing a roller between each arm of the X frame, the rollers being mounted on spindles carried in bearing plates radially projecting transversely at intervals along the shaft. The rollers are formed from polypropylene or other suitable materials compatible with dye and other liquors.

The rollers are provided in sets, at least two sets being disposed in spiral fashion along the axis of the shaft for the spiral guide member. One set surrounds the shaft at the spiral root or base of the first pocket of the spiral guide member while the other set extends from the first pocket to surround the shaft at the bases or roots of all of the other pockets. In this fashion, the rollers for the first pocket can rotate at a difierent speed than the rollers for the other pockets.

By virtue of the rollers for the shaft the loops of fabric will slidably bear without frictional drag on the shaft deep within the pockets and thereby be guided by the pockets free from any possibility of jumping out from the outer turns of the pockets. The loops due to the deep positions within the pockets can travel to the winch roller at a sharp angle and will be well within the tank.

In operation, fabric material is formed into loops by the conveyor chain and laid up along the winch roller which serves to propel the loops which are guided by the pockets of the spiral guide member. The chain travels over a sprocket and support rollers on the inside of one end wall structure of the tank. Gears may be provided to prevent the fabric from coming into contact with the chain.

The conveyor or can'ier chain rotates a chain wheel which drives an adjustable speed unit for driving the spiral guide unit in timed relation with the chain which is driven at varied speeds by the winch roller in a way to control the length of the rope fabric in each loop or convolution. The conveyor chain is driven by a sprocket wheel over which the chain passes. The sprocket wheel is driven by the winch roller through a variable speed gearing so that the speed of the conveyor chain may be regulated independently of the speed of rotation of the winch roller. The variable speed gearing is controlled by a handwheel at the front of the tank with the handwheel operating a screw through a universally mounted connected rod to activate a lever controlling the variable speed gearing.

An adjustable speed unit for the spiral guide member is driven by the chain passing over the chain wheel mounted inside the tank on a tubular shaft rotating in bearings carried in a bracket outside the machine. The shaft of the spiral guide member is mounted concentrically with and connected to a central shaft arranged to rotate within the tubular shaft and driven through gearing outside the tank which transmits a drive from the tubular shaft to the central shaft and so directly to the spiral guide member or unit by means of a transverse peg passing through the inner end of the central shaft which engages slots in the spiral guide unit shaft.

The gears fitted externally of the apparatus are of such a ratio that one revolution of the conveyor chain equals one revolution of the spiral guide unit. The relative speeds may be varied by replacing the outer pair of gears by those of a different ratio to cause the spiral guide member to rotate twice per revolution of the conveyor chain. The ropes of fabric then occupy alternate spaces along the length of the spiral.

The spiral guide unit is built up on a hollow shaft or spindle I with radiating spokes supporting the turns of the wire spiral.

One end of the shaft for the spiral unit is driven through the spiral drive gear, as herein before described, which supports the unit and the other end is supported by a stub shaft which is slidably and rotatably disposed in a bearing sleeve and which may be withdrawn whenever it is necessary to remove the spiral guide member from the machine.

Thus, primary objects of the present invention are to guide the fabric within the pockets of the spiral guide member and to provide variable drives for the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member. I

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a dye beck constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the novel variable drive arrangements and the means for adjusting the variable speed gearing between the winch roller and the conveyor chain;

FIG. 2 is an internal end elevational view of the end wall shown exteriorly in FIG. 1 with the winch roller and spiral guide member shown in end elevation;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the spiral guide member, winch roller and conveyor chain in front elevation;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the spiral guide member showing the means for securing it between the end walls of the tank and for attaching it to the variable drive arrangement therefor;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the spiral guide member provided with bearing rollers for the fabric loops;

FIG. 6 is a end elevational view of the guide member;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic end elevational view of the center shaft assembly for the spiral guide member;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective showing of the spiral guide member; and,

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of a modified form of spiral guide member wherein sleeves are rotatably circumposed on the vertical spokes connecting the turns of the wire member with the center shaft.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 through 3, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a dye beck or fabric treating apparatus which is of the type disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,088,665 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,308,639 and 3,460,362.

The apparatus 10 includes a tank 12 having a bottom chamber 14 containing a liquid bath 16 and having opposing end wall structures 18 and 20.

A winch roller 22, or a type of draw-in roller arrangement, if rotatably mounted between the end wall structures 18 and 20 of the tank. The winch roller 22 is shown as elliptical in cross section but may be of any cross-sectional shape. The shaft end journals 24 of the winch roller are rotatably journaled in the end wall structures 18 and 20 of the tank with one of the journals being connected, in any manner or fashion, to the drive from a prime mover, such as an electric motor (not shown) so that the winch roller 22 is directly and primarily driven. The winch roller is journaled for rotation longitudinally between the end wall structures 18 and 20 and is disposed in a horizontal plane above the liquid bath in the bottom chamber 14.

An idler reel 25 is rotatably journaled in the end wall structures at the front of the tank and disposed parallel with the winch roller.

The tank may be of the open type or closed pressure type, as shown, and, in the latter regard, the tank has enclosed front and rear vertical wall structures 26 and 28 and a dome-like top wall 30.

The interior of the end wall structure 18 supports a plurality of rotatably journaled sprockets 32 over which the endless conveyor or carrier chain 34 is entrained with the chain passing over the drive wheel 36 and being driven thereby. The conveyor chain has a universal finger 38 to which the leading end of the fabric 39 is attached with the endless conveyor moving in an orbital vertical path that encompasses the adjacent ends of the winch roller, the idler roller and a spiral guide member 40.

The spiral guide member 40 is in the form of an elongated hollow shaft 42 having a wire member 44 helically coiled thereabout in a number of spiral convolutions or turns 46 and connected thereto by radial spokes 48. The spiral guide member is rotatably journaled between the tank end wall structures 18 and 20 parallel with the winch roller.

The spiral guide member has the ends of its hollow shaft 42 plugged with bored plugs or fittings and 47, as shown in FIG. 4. The plug 47 is formed with an axial bore 49 that-is adapted to slidably receive the inner end 50 of a locking bearing shaft 52. The locking bearing shaft 52 is slidably and rotatably journaled in a bearing structure 54 and is disposed transversely through the tank end wall structure 20 with the shaft having an outer end provided with a hand wheel 56 by means of which the shaft can be moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the tank for the purpose of inserting the inner end 50 bearingly in the bore 49 of the plug 47.

The plug or sleeve 45 is adapted to receive the cap sleeve 59 which is fixed onto the inner end 58 of a drive shaft 60 that is rotatably journaled within a tubular shaft 62 rotatably sup ported by a bearing sleeve 63 that is fixed in a suitable opening in the end wall structure 18. The inner end 58 ofthe shaft 60 has radially projecting fingers or lugs 64 which are adapted to lockingly fit in the axial splines or grooves 66 formed in the bore of the sleeve 45 so as to lock the shaft 60 to the shaft 42 so that the shaft 60 drives the shaft 42.

The inner end portion 68 of the tubular shaft 62 fixedly carries a large sprocket 70 over which the chain 34 is passed so that the chain rotates the shaft 62 through the sprocket 70.

The outer end proportion 69 of the tubular shaft 62 supports a pinion 72 which is enmeshed with a large gear 74 rotatably carried by a stub shaft 76 that projects outwardly from the end wall structure 18, as shown in FIG. 3. A small pinion 80 is also joumaled on the shaft 76 and is enmeshed with a gear 82 that is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 60, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Both the pinion 80 and the gear 82 are fixedly attached to a common sleeve, not shown in the drawings, which is journaled on the stub shaft 76.

Thus, the rotary movement of the chain 34 drives the sprocket 70 which is fixed to the tubular shaft 62 so that it rotates the tubular shaft 62 and through the gearing 72, 74, 80 and 82 the power shaft 60 which is lockingly engaged with the shaft 42 for the spiral guide member. The chain 34 drives the spiral guide member 40 through the adjustable speed unit whereby the spiral guide member is rotated in timed relation with the chain, which is driven by the winch roller 22 through a variable speed gearing 96.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive wheel 36 for the conveyor chain 34 is fixed on a driven shaft 86 that is rotatably mounted in the end wall structure 18 and which carries a gear 84 on its outer end, the gear 84 being connected by a drive transmitting chain 88, that is provided with a pivoted chain tightener 90, to the winch roller. The drive chain 88 is driven by a large sprocket 92 that is fixed on an output shaft 94 which projects outwardly from a variable speed gearing 96. The input shaft 98 of the variable speed gearing is provided with a gear 100 which is driven by a chain 102 from a sprocket 104 which is fixed on the outer shaft end 106 of the winch roller 22. The chain 102 is also provided with a tightener 108.

Means is provided for enabling an operator to easily vary and adjust the variable speed gearing 96 and, therefore, change the power drive from the winch roller into variable drives for the chain which, of course, results in a possible variable change in the drive for the spiral guide member, with the spiral guide member and the chain rotating in timed relation. The surface speed of the winch roller determines the amount of cloth drawn in and the speed thereof is varied by the controls for the prime mover for the winch roller.

The means for adjusting the variable gearing in the variable speed gearing 96 includes an adjustment lever 110 carried by the variable speed gearing 96 and having a fixed control am 112 angularly connected thereto and to which the upper end of a bell crank 114 is pivotally attached. The opposite angularly offset end 116 of the bell crank is pivotally attached to a supporting bracket 118 and pivotally carries a traveller nut 120 on its lower end. The traveler nut 120 is threaded on an adjustment screw 122 so that rotational movement of the adjustment screw 122 results in movement of the traveler nut along the axis of the adjustment screw rod so as to pivot the bell crank and thereby move the control arm 1 for the variable speed gearing 96. The adjustment screw rod is attached by a universal joint 124 to a long connecting rod 126 which has its opposite end connected by a universal joint 128 to the operating shaft 130 of a hand wheel 132 which has an outer or front dial face bearing indicia that enables easy setting of the hand wheel to adjustably control the gearing drive for the chain and thereby vary the size of the fabric loops. The conveyor chain 34 rotates the chain wheel 70 which drives the variable speed drive unit for the spiral guide member or unit 40. The conveyor chain is driven by the drive wheel 36 over which the chain passes with the drive wheel 36 being driven through the variable speed gearing 96 so that the speed of the conveyor chain may be regulated independently of the speed of the driving winch roller. The variable speed gearing is controlled by the hand wheel 132 at the front of the tank operating the screw 122 through the universal connecting rod 126 to actuate the gear selector lever 1 10.

The shaft of the spiral guide member is connected to the central supporting shaft 60 adapted to rotate within the tubular shaft 62 rotatably joumaled in the end wall structure 18 of the tank shaft. The central shaft 60 is driven through the adjustable speed unit arranged outside of the end wall structures 18 of the tank with the gearing transmitting the drive from the tubular shaft 62 to the center supporting shaft 66 and directly to the spiral guide member by means of the transverse locking lugs 64 on the inner end of the shaft 60 which fit in the slots 66 in the sleeve end 44 of the tubular shaft 42 for the spiral guide member 46. The gearing 72, 74, and 82 which connect the tubular shaft 62 and the center shaft 60 externally of the end wall structure 18 of the tank are set in a ratio of one revolution of the conveyor chain to one revolution of the spiral guide member. The relative speeds may be varied by replacing the outer pairs of gears with gears having different ratios to cause the spiral guide member to rotate at different revolutions in relation to the conveyor chain so that the loops of the fabric than can occupy alternate spaces along the length of the spiral shaft. In other words, the pockets or spaces, which are defined by the turns of convolutions 46 of the wire member 44, may be filled not necessarily in adjacent sequential order but rather in various alternate fashions, merely by changing the speed ratio of the gearing connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member. The spiral guide member is easily inserted in place and removed by the slidable bearing shaft 52, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FlGS. 5 through 9, the spiral guide member 40 has its center shaft 42 provided with longitudinally extending diametrically crossed radial arms or plates 134, which are arranged in diametrically opposed relationship so that they provide an X frame 136. Fabric bearing rollers 138 are rotatably pocketed in the spaces 141) between the right angularly related arms 134 of the X frame 136 with the rollers being freely rotatable and being carried by spindle rods 142 that have their ends fitted in outwardly extending apertured bearing ears 144 provided transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 42. In this regard, the plates or arms 134 project axially of the longitudinal axis of the shaft with the bearing ears 144 being transverse to the cross plates 134 of the X frame, as can be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 9. Thus, the rollers 138 are rotatably mounted on the spindles carried in bearing ears 144 spacedly disposed along the longitudinal extent of the shaft 40 for the elongated spiral guide member 40. The rollers may be of polypropylene or of any other material suitable for use with dye or other treating liquors. The rollers are of a diameter to have their outer surfaces lying in a common circle disposed outwardly of the outer edges of the arms and the bearing ears.

It can be appreciated that the spiral guide member 40 con sists of the central hollow shaft 42 carrying the helical wire member 44 connected by the radial spokes 48 to the shaft. The rollers 133 eliminate the need for the idler roller 25 of FIG. 1, and disposed either above or below the spiral guide member, with the loops being able to bend at an acute angle, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and indicated by the reference character F, from the shaft of the spiral guide member to the winch roller 22. The difference in the angular passage of the loops with the usual idler roller 25 and the rollers 138 on the spiral guide member can be appreciated comparing the loops F with the loops F passing over the conventional idler roller 25 and the overfeed stub shaft 145, as shown in FIG. 3. Such stub shaft 145 is usually disposed over the initial pocket 42a of the spiral guide member so as to prevent the forming loop which is directly connected to the conveyor chain and always is disposed adjacent the inside of the end wall structure 18 from coming in contact with the shaft of the spiral guide member and coming in contact too soon with the winch roller so that it feeds too quickly.

In order to overcome overrunning of the constantly forming and reforming loop L in the initial pocket 42a, the rollers are formed in series, especially with regard to the initial pocket 42a so that, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the initial pocket 42a is provided at its spiral root or base with its own spiral set of rollers. It is preferred that the rollers be made in sections, as shown in FIG. 5, along the longitudinal extent of the spiral guide member so that there is a series of rollers for each pocket inasmuch as the rollers for the pockets will not necessarily run at the same speed. However, this is only critical in regard to the first forming pocket 42a in relation to all of the other pockets 42b of the spiral guide member. It is only with regard to the first pocket that overrunning can become a problem. Therefore, it is proposed that there be at least a first spiral set of rollers 138a which is provided for the initial fonning pocket 42a and thereafter there can be another set of long rollers.

The length of the first set 138a of rollers would vary complemental to the spiral extent of the base of the spiral pocket 42a. The rollers of the first set are placed in a spiral fashion around the shaft 42. Therefore, the rollers 138a would be driven by the forming loop at the speed of the conveyor chain whereas the other rollers underlying the spiral bases or roots of the other pockets of the spiral guide member would be driven at the speed of the winch roller in that they would be idlingly driven by the already laid up fabric loops that are driven by the winch roller.

The bearing ears 144 which support the roller spindles may be relatively thin, since the spindles do not rotate about their axes, and therefore avoid any gaps which might trap or snag the fabric. It is to be noted that the rollers rotate on the spindles and that they bear very close to the bearing ears 144 so that no gaps are created that might snag the fabric loops. Support rods for the spiral or helix, such as the spokes 48 may be weldedto the X frame member 134 if found necessary, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.

The ends of the four spindle rods 142 at the drive end of the spiral guide member 40 are attached to the end plate 143, as shown in FIG. 9. The rollers of the set 138a are of increasing length, going counter clockwise around the center shaft 42 of the spiral guide member and viewed from the drive end of the center shaft with such progressive increase in length being necessary to complement the spiral of the base or root of the pocket 42a. Thus, the rollers are spiraled around the center shaft. Similarly, the rollers of the second or any further sets are progressively stepped to effect a spiral design, as shown in FIGS. and 9.

As shown in FIG. 10, it is also intended that the spokes 48 which radially extend from the shaft 42 and connect the wire turns or convolutions to the shaft be provided with polypropylene rollers 146 which are rotatably sleeved thereon. Such rollers 146 are rotatably circumposed on the spokes and provide fully rotatable sleeve covers for the spokes so that the fabric does not brush against the spokes. There is no drag between the spokes and the fabric loops should they possibly comeinto contact with each other. If the fabric loops come in contact with the sleeve rollers 146 it would be the same as with the loops travelling on the rollers 138 that enclose and surround the shaft 42 of the spiral guide member unit 40.

Due to the provision of the rollers 138 around the shaft 42 of the spiral guide member 40 and, if found necessary, the rollers 146 on the radial spokes 48, the loops of fabric will roll or slide smoothly and effortlessly within the roots of the pockets defined by the turns of the wire member on the shaft 42. The fabric loops will be guided by the spiral guide member without the need for an idler roller or any other type of external guide reel or bar arrangement. The hereindescribed internal structure of the spiral guide member eliminates the need for any type of external guide means for the spiral guide member.

In view of the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be apparent so that a detailed discussion of the operation will not be presented. However, it is to be understood that the embodiments described and shown herein are merely illustrative in nature and that various changes can be made as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which express the true nature of the invention that is not to be considered delimited by the Abstract herein. Thus, for example, while it has not-been specifically illustrated it is to be obviously understood that the variable drive arrangements are employed with the apparatus having the spiral guide member with the internal guide roller arrangements, either the rollers on the shaft alone or on the shaft and the spokes.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising;

A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber.

B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing rope fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof,

C. a spiral guide member rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, said spiral guide member having movable pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller,

D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member,

E. means for rotating the winch roller,

F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the conveyor chain which comprises:

1. a variable speed gearing, 2. a rotatably mounted drive wheel which drives said conveyor chain, 3. a gear which is rigidly and axially attached to said drive wheel, a drive chain which drives said gear, 5. a sprocket which drives said drive chain and is fixed to an output shaft from said variable speed gearing. 6. a gear on an input shaft to said variable speed gearing, 7. a chain which drives said gear on said input shaft, 8. a sprocket which drives said chain and is fixed to the outer shaft end of said winch roller, and 9. a means for adjusting said variable speed gearing,

G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, and

H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral guide member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said variable speed gearing comprises:

a. an adjustment lever,

b. a control arm carried by said lever,

c. a pivoted bell crank pivotally connected to said control arm at one end and carrying a traveller nut at its other end,

d. an adjustment screw threaded in said nut,

e. a connecting rod universally connected to said adjustment screw at one end, and

f. a hand wheel universally connected to the other end of said connecting rod and disposed at said front of the tank.

3. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising:

A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber,

B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing rope fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof,

C. a spiral guide member rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, said spiral guide member having movable pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller,

D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member,

E. means for rotating the winch roller,

F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the conveyor chain, 7

G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member, so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, which comprises:

l a tubular bearing shaft rotatably journaled in the chaincarrying end wall of the tank,

2. a drive gear fixed on the inner end of the tubular shaft and engaged by the chain,

3. a drive stub shaft rotatably joumaled in the tubular shaft and having an inner and an outer end,

4. means releasably locking the inner end of the drive shaft to the spiral guide member, and

5. means connecting the outer end of the drive shaft to the bearing shaft exteriorly of the tank end wall, and

H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by the spiral guide member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said spiral guide member has a center shaft having opposing ends, one of said ends having an axial socket in which the drive shaft is fitted and locking means connecting the shafts.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said other end of the center shaft for the spiral guide member has an axial socket, a bearing shaft slidably mounted in the opposing end wall of the tank and supportingly fitted in the axial socket.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means connecting the outer end of the drive shaft and the bearing shaft is a variable gearing.

7. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising:

A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber,

B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing roped fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof,

C. a spiral guide member, rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, having:

1. movable spiral pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller, and

2. a center shaft having a wire member helically coiled therearound and connected thereto at each turn by radial spokes to define said movable spiral pockets,

D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member,

E. means for rotating the winch roller,

F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the carrier chain,

G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, and

H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral uide member, comprising rollers rotatably mounte on the shaft lengthwise thereof and surrounding the shaft to underlie the roots of the spiral pockets.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said center shaft is an X frame providing lengthwise radial spaces in which the rollers are housed along the axis of the shaft, transverse ears outstanding from the shaft and receiving spindles on which the rollers are mounted.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said radial spokes are attached to said X frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the outer surface of said rollers lie in a common circle disposed outwardly of the outer edges of said X-frame and said bearing ears and inwardly of said helically coiled wire member.

1 1. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the guide member has an initial pocket adjacent the chain and a plurality of other pockets and said guide rollers are made up of at least two independent sets, one set spirally underlying the initial pocket and the other set spirally underlying the other pockets.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 and including rotatable sleeves rotatably circumposed on the spokes. 

1. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising; A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber. B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and Disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing rope fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof, C. a spiral guide member rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, said spiral guide member having movable pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller, D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member, E. means for rotating the winch roller, F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the conveyor chain which comprises:
 1. a variable speed gearing,
 2. a rotatably mounted drive wheel which drives said conveyor chain,
 3. a gear which is rigidly and axially attached to said drive wheel,
 4. a drive chain which drives said gear,
 5. a sprocket which drives said drive chain and is fixed to an output shaft from said variable speed gearing.
 6. a gear on an input shaft to said variable speed gearing,
 7. a chain which drives said gear on said input shaft,
 8. a sprocket which drives said chain and is fixed to the outer shaft end of said winch roller, and 9.a means for adjusting said variable speed gearing, G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, and H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral guide member.
 2. a rotatably mounted drive wheel which drives said conveyor chain,
 2. a drive gear fixed on the inner end of the tubular shaft and engaged by the chain,
 2. a center shaft having a wire member helically coiled therearound and connected thereto at each turn by radial spokes to define said movable spiral pockets, D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member, E. means for rotating the winch roller, F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the carrier chain, G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, and H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral guide member, comprising rollers rotatably mounted on the shaft lengthwise thereof and surrounding the shaft to underlie the roots of the spiral pockets.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said variable speed gearing comprises: a. an adjustment lever, b. a control arm carried by said lever, c. a pivoted bell crank pivotally connected to said control arm at one end and carrying a traveller nut at its other end, d. an adjustment screw threaded in said nut, e. a connecting rod universally connected to said adjustment screw at one end, and f. a hand wheel universally connected to the other end of said connecting rod and disposed at said front of the tank.
 3. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising: A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber, B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing rope fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof, C. a spiral guide member rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, said spiral guide member having movable pockets for guiding the fabric in spaced loops on the winch roller, D. an endless conveyor chain rotatably mounted on one end wall of the tank and movable in a vertical orbital path around the adjacent ends of the winch roller and spiral guide member and having means whereby the leading end of the roped fabric is attached thereto and carried thereby around the ends of the winch roller and the spiral guide member, E. means for rotating the winch roller, F. a variable speed drive transmission means drivingly connecting the winch roller to the conveyor chain, G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member, so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, which comprises:
 3. a drive stub shaft rotatably journaled in the tubular shaft and having an inner and an outer end,
 3. a gear which is rigidly and axially attached to said drive wheel,
 4. a drive chain which drives said gear,
 4. means releasably locking the inner end of the drive shaft to the spiral guide member, and
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said spiral guide member has a center shaft having opposing ends, one of said ends having an axial socket in which the drive shaft is fitted and locking means connecting the shafts.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said other end of the center shaft for the spiral guide member has an axial socket, a bearing shaft slidably mounted in the opposing end wall of the tank and supportingly fitted in the axial socket.
 5. means connecting the outer end of the drive shaft to the bearing shaft exteriorly of the tank end wall, and H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by the spiral guide member.
 5. a sprocket which drives said drive chain and is fixed to an output shaft from said variable speed gearing.
 6. a gear on an input shaft to said variable speed gearing,
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means connecting the outer end of the drive shaft and the bearing shaft is a variable gearing.
 7. An apparatus for treating textile fabrics in rope form comprising: A. a tank having a front and opposing end walls and a bottom liquid chamber, B. a winch roller rotatably mounted in the tank between the end walls and disposed horizontally above the liquid chamber for drawing roped fabric into the tank in the formation of a fabric helix and revolving loops of the fabric helix after formation thereof, C. a spiral guide member, rotatably mounted between the end walls and disposed in the tank horizontally above the liquid chamber and in spaced parallel relation with the winch roller, having:
 7. a chain which drives said gear on said input shaft,
 8. a sprocket which drives said chain and is fixed to the outer shaft end of said winch roller, and 9.a means for adjusting said variable speed gearing, G. an adjustable speed unit drivingly connecting the conveyor chain and the spiral guide member so that the spiral guide member rotates in timed relation with the conveyor chain, and H. a pocket guide means for the fabric loops carried by said spiral guide member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said center shaft is an X frame providing lengthwise radial spaces in which the rollers are housed along the axis of the shaft, transverse ears outstanding from the shaft and receiving spindles on which the rollers are mounted.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said radial spokes are attached to said X frame.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the outer surface of said rollers lie in a common circle disposed outwardly of the outer edges of said X-frame and said bearing ears and inwardly of said helically coiled wire member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the guide member has an initial pocket adjacent the chain and a plurality of other pockets and said guide rollers are made up of at least two independent sets, one set spirally underlying the initial pocket and the other set spirally underlying the other pockets.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7 and including rotatable sleeves rotatably circumposed on the spokes. 